Click to play videoNew Delhi: The much anticipated Kamal Haasan film Dasavathaaram releases in Tamil and Telugu on Friday. Director KS Ravikumar and Haasan team up for the fourth time with this magnum opus made with a budget of about Rs 165 crore.
“We came up with the idea of doing a full-fledged entertainer this time,” Haasan told CNN-IBN but added that the making of the movie was plagued with controversies and problems.
“We faced a lot of problems. Things were not ready on time. We called off the first day’s shooting and second day was slow. But in the end we are all set for the release,” Haasan said.
Special effects specialist from Hollywood Brian Jennings also said that the making of the mammoth film was no mean task. “The first time I met Kamal I told him ‘what are you doing? Are you crazy?’ But I felt sorry for them and thought as a human being I should help.”
However, Ravikumar believes that their hard work has finally paid off. “Kamalji told me that there's no gain without pain. He spent hours and hours to get his makeup right for his different looks. Shooting this film was a tough experience.”
Dasavathaaram travels back and forth in time with Haasan doing 10 different roles, including that of American President George Bush.
In the history of cinema this is the first time that one actor has played 10 characters.
The film begins and ends in the 12th Century where Haasan plays a staunch Vaishnavite opposing the removal of a statue of Vishnu.
The film also stars Asin in a double role and Mallika Sherawat. The movie has music by composer Himesh Reshammiya.
The apex court on Thursday cleared the decks for its release by dismissing a plea by a Hindu sect that it would hurt the religious sentiments of some.
The Hindi version of the film will be released two weeks later.
Although Haasan left no stone unturned to craft an exceptional film, controversies tailed the movie and its producer throughout.
At least three cases were heard in the Madras High Court and an appeal reached the Supreme Court.
The first time the film came into the news when The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences threatened to take producer ‘Oscar’ Ravichandran to court for using the golden Oscar statuette without permission.
Later, its music release event, attended by actors Jackie Chan and Amitabh Bachchan, drew criticism due to some journalists and fans being cane-charged in Chennai in early April.
While ironically Chan expressed ignorance about Haasan during the press conference, Chinese press assailed their icon for misbehaviour in an Indian hotel, a charge denied by the martial arts exponent-actor.
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